Stopping mechanism for sewing-machines



G. E. MOLYNEUX.

4 STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED D50. 2. I916.

1,373,;755. Patented p 5, 192}.

G. E. MOLYNEUX. STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 19H].

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Apr. 5,1921.

INVENTOR G. E. MOLYNEUX.

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINFS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.2. [916.

'1, 373,755, Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Parent OFFICE.

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY.

STOPPINQ MECHANISM FDR SENING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed. December 2, 1916. Serial No. 134,587.

1 o all whom it may 007100741:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn E. MOLYNEUX, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Bayonne, county of Hudson, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stopping Mechanisms for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The object of this invention is to provide improved devices for arresting quickly, without shock or jar, and with the parts in predetermined position, the movement of high speed machines, such as power-driven sewing machines. Some devices intended for similar use are dependent, in some manner, upon centrifugal action, the structure including a movable part which is held in normal or inoperative position by centrifugal action when the machine is operated at normal high speed and moves, when the speed falls below the normal, upon the open ing of the transmission clutch, for example, and by its movement initiates or permits the operation of the stopping devices. In the stopping, mechanism which forms the subject of the present invention there is no part which is held in normal position by centrifugal action and moves, when the speed is reduced, to initiate or permit the action of the stopping devices, but the construction is such that the act of opening the transmission clutch through which the machine is driven, itself initiates the operation of the stopping devices, which are themselves preferably so arranged and constructed that a braking action is first exerted upon the moving parts of the machine and is then immediately released, so that if the machine is not stopped by the braking action with its parts in predetermined positions, the movement of the machine, although retardedby the temporary braking action, may be continued thereafter until it is arrested, with the parts in predetermined positions, by positively acting stopping devices, which are suitably cushioned to prevent shock.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which,

Figurel is a view in ing the improved stopping mechanism applied to the arm or frame of a sewing machine.

front elevation show-- Fig. 2 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line H of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detail View in perspective of the carrier slide-block.

The improved mechanism is shown in the drawings as adapted for application to an ordinary, straightaway sewing machine, the bedplate of which is indicated at a, the usual arm or frame at I), the driving shaft at 0 and the driving pulley at d. V

A relatively fixed member 6, preferably a plate or disk, is shown as mounted fixedly on a hubb of the arm or frame I), this member serving as a support and guide for the carrier slide-block hereinafter referred to and also furnishing a support for the bellcrank hereinafter mentioned.

On the right hand face of the member 6 is secured, as by a screw f, at its middle part, a split brake-band or ring 7, which is normally truly circular and has its free ends separated by a narrow gap F. In a radial groove 6, formed in the right handface of the member 6 and provided at its lower end with a keep 6 is supported and guided a carrier guide-block which is provided with stop-lug g, a brake-actuating pin adapted to enter the gap between'the ends of the brake-ring f for the purpose of spreading the brakering and also to pass entirely through the gap so as to release the brake, and an actuating pin 9 by which the slide-block is moved radially toward the axis of the shaft 0 for the purpose of causing the pin 9 to actuate and release thebrake. A spring 7 acts upon the slide-block to sup plement the'weight thereof and press it nor mally away from the shaft 0. r

Also mounted on the hub 12, but loosely, so that it may rotate thereon and also move laterally thereon toward and from the member e, is a disklike member h which, in the construction shown, hasv a triple function. It serves as a brake member to cooperate with the split brake-ring f, as a slide-block actuator to actuate the slide-block g and as a positive stop. In its left hand face itis provided with an angular, truly circular groove 7a which is adapted to receive the brake-ring f when the member h is moved toward the member 6, receiving the brakering with a free fit but with little clearance.

It is also provided, in its left hand face, with a spiral groove fi for cooperation with the pin 9 of the slide-block, to move the slide-block inwardly. This spiral groove is shown in Fig. 2 as having nearly two complatc turns, but its length will be varied according to the character and especially according to the speed of the machine to which the stopping mechanism is applied. It is also provided, on its perimeter with a positive stop-lug [t for coiiperation With the stoplug g on the slide-block g, which is carried by the relatively stationary member 6. It has also on its right hand facea stoplug h to cooperate with a stop-lug of the shock absorber to be referred to. A spiral spring 7L surrounding the hub 1), acts normally upon the member h to press it away from the member 6 and therefore to keep it tion of. high speed sewing machines theout of contact with the brake-ring, the movement of'the member htothe right being limited by pins it. 7

The driving pulley d is fixed upon the driving shaft 6., as by a set-screw cl, and has a long hub (5 which extends to the left toward the hub .7). Keyed on the hub (P, so as to be free to slide longitudinally thereon but to rotate therewith, is a shock absorb ing member 70, which is provided, in the usual manner, with a stop-lug In to cooperate with the stop-lug 1L4, above mentioned, this stoplug is being movable to a limited extent with respect to the shock absorber and held between two springs 76 and 70 which cushion the parts respectively against the shock of stopping and the shock of the rebound. The hub of the shock absorber is grooved circumferentially as at 7s and is engaged by the forked end Z of the bell crank Z which is pivoted at Z on the above mentioned arm 6 i The other arm Z of the bell crank is'connected by a linkZ to the usual foot-operated devices for controlling the clutch of the transmission through which the machine isdriven. The spring. Z is applied to the link'l to press it upwardly. In the opera pressure of the operators foot on the pedal throws in the clutch of the transmission and pulls down the link Z against the spring Z so as to hold thememberlc in its right hand position. When it is desired to stop the machine, thepressure of the operators foot on-the pedal is removed, the clutch of the transmission is thereupon opened, and the action of the spring Z on the link Z through the bell crank Z, causes the member isto be moved towardthe left. The ing is (which is made sufficiently long for this purpose) presses against the right hand face of the member 7t and causes it to move towardthe left against the pressure of the spring it. This movement-of the member 72, causes the circular groove h, in its left hand face, to receivethe brake-ring f and at the same time causes the spiral groove 7L2 to engage the pin g of the slide block. As the lug is also engages the lug 7% of the member 71,, the latter is then made to rotate with the driving pulley (Z and the shaft 0, so that the spiral groove k then causes the slide-block g to be moved inwardly towardthe shaft 0 and the pin 9 to be moved into'the gap between the ends of the brake-ring, thereby expanding the brake-ring within the groove.

72, and either stopping the rotation of the member it and, through the shock absorber, the rotation of'the shaft 0, while the'pin g is in the gap, thereby arresting the movement of the machine with its parts in predetermined positions, or, if the momentum of the machine is too great to permit the stopping of the machine by the action of the brake only, the continued rota tion of the member it causes the pin g to move through the ap, thereby immediately releasing the brakeandpermitting the rotation of the parts to continue until the lug h makes contact with the lug y, whereupon the movement of the machine will be arrested positively, the shock being cushioned through the shock absorber as already understood.

The clearance between the brake-band and the outer wall of the groove it in the memher It is so slight that a very slight increase of the distance between the ends of the brake-band is suflicient to cause the predetermined braking sheet to be produced and the elasticity of the brake-band is such that the brake-band itself offers but little resistance to the separation of its ends by the pin 9 In restarting the machine the pressure of the operators foot is applied to the clutch i the bell crank Z, the shock absorber is is moved to the right. This movement withdraws the lugh from theright hand face of the'mcmber h which is then moved to the right by the spring 7?, leaving the brake-. band free; The elasticity of the brakeband is such, as already stated, that the ends separate readily and the pin-gfiifit stood; between the ends when the machine stopped, is immediately releascchand moves to its'low'est position, clear of the brake-band, or, if the 5 machine was not stopped by the application of the brake butcontinued to operate until the lug k contacts with the lug g, with the pin within the *circle of the brake"- V band f, the slide-block drops or is pressed by lug 70' clears the lug h and the member It therefore does not rotate, but as soon as the pressure of the operators foot is removed the member 70 moves to the left and the lug 76, if it first oontacts'with the face of the lug it", immediately moves beyond it, in the direction of its rotary movement, and then bears against the face of the member h to cause its movement to the left as already described.

If the speed of the machine is not too high and the momentum of the moving parts is not too great the machine may be brought to rest by the application of the brake alone,

but if the speed is higher and the momentum greater, the energy will be absorbed largely by the brake and the movement of the parts will then be arrested positively by the contact of the block 71, with the relatively sta-' tionary block g, the reaction being transmitted through the lugs k and la to the shock absorber and thence to the driving shaft 0.

to leave a clearance between the pin 9 and the end of the slot when the lug 71, makes contact with the lug g and the pin 9 therefore is not subjected to the shock of stopping.

Various changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made to suit dif-' ferent conditions of use and the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stopping mechanlsm, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member, a brake-ring carriedby one of said members, the other of said members being formed with a cooperating brake-surface, said members being held normally with the brake-ring and the cooperating brake-.

surface in inoperative relation, means to move one of said members to place the brakering and brake-surface in operative relation, and means to actuate the brake-ring 0 exert a braking action on the brake-surace.

2. In a stopping mechanism, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member, a split brake ring carried by one of said members, the other of said members being formed with a cooperating brake surface, a pin adapted to pass between the ends of the brake ring to spread the same and means to move said pin into position between the ends of the brakering to spread the same and to continue the move- 3. In a stopping mechanism, the combina tion of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member, a split brake-ring carried by one of said members, the other of said members being formed with a cooperating brake-surface, a slide-block radially movable with respect to the brake-ring, a pin carried by said slide-block and adapted to pass between the ends of the brake-ring to spread the same, and means to move the slide'block.

4. In a stopping mechanism, the combina tion of a relatively stationary member, a split brake-ringcarried by said stationary member, a rotatable member mounted coaxially with the brake-ring and grooved to form abrake-surface to cooperate with the brakering, and having also a spiral groove,and a slide-block radially movable on the station ary member and having a pin to engage the spiral groove of the rotatable member and another pin to enter the gap between the ends of the brake-ring and spread the same.

5. In a stopping mechanism, the combina brake and in its continued movement to re- It Wlll be understood that the end of the spiral slot h is continued to such a point as lease the same immediately, and positive stopping devices acting after the release of the brake to stop the continued movement of the moving parts.

i 6. In a stopping mechanism, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member, a brake carried by one of said members, the other of said members being formed with a cooperating brake-sun face, means to apply the brake and to release the same immediately, and cooperating stop-lugs carried by said members respectively to stop positively the rotation of the rotatable member after the release of the brake. P a i 7 In a stopping mechanism, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable memberfa'brake carried by one of said members, the other of said members being formed with a cooperating brake surface, means to apply the brake and'to release the same immediately, a stop-lug carried by one of said members, a radially movable stop-lug carried by the other of said members, and means to move the last-named lug into operative relation with the first.

8. In a stopping mechanism, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member having a spiral groove and having a stop-lug, and a slide-block mounted in a radial groove of the stationary member to move radially thereon and independently thereof and having a pin to engage the spiral groove, and a stop-lug to be moved thereby into the path of the lug on the rotatable member.

tion of a relatively stationary member, a

split brakering carried thereby, a rotatable member formed with an annularoooperat= mg brake-surface and w th a spiral groove,

and having a stop-lug, and a-slide-block radially movableon the stationary member and havinga pin to engage the spiral groove of the rotatable member whereby the block is moved radially, a pin to pass through the gap between theends ofthe split ring and spread the same,-and a stop-lugmovable with the block into the path of thestop-lug on the rotatable member. a V

10.,In a stepping mechanism, the combination of arelatively stationary member,

a rotatable member .movable toward and from the stationary member, a brake-ring carried by one of saidmembers and the other member being formed with a cooperating brake-surface, means to cause the brake to exert a braking action on the brake surface, a drivingshaft mounted ooaxially withthe rotatable member, a sleeve member mounted to rotate with the driving shaftand move longitudinally with respect thereto, a device carried by the sleeve member to bear against and to move said rotatablemember toward the stationary member, and means to shift the sleevelike member longitudinally.

11. In a stopping mechanism, the com-, bination of a relatively stationary member,

a rotatable member movable toward and from the stationary member, a brake-ring carried by one of said members and the other member being formed with a cooperating brake-surface, means to cause the brake to exert a braking action on the brake-sun face, a driving shaft mounted coaxially with the] rotatable member, a sleeve member mounted to rotate with the driving shaft and to move longitudinally with respect thereto to move said rotatable member toward the stationary member, means to shift the sleevelike member longitudinally, the Totatable member and the sleevelike member having cooperating stop-lugs. r

. 12. In a stopping mechanism, the combination of a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member movable toward and from the stationary member, a brake-ring carried by one of said members and the other mem' ber being .formed'with'a cooperating brakesurfaoe, means to cause the brake to exert a braking action on the brake-surface, adriving shaft mounted coaxiallywith the rota table member, a sleeve member ountedito rotatevwith the driving shaft and to move longitudinallyswith respect'thereto to move said rotatable member toward the-stationary memberggmeans to shiftthe sleeve-like member longitudinally, ';the rotatable 'member and the sleevelike member havingzcooperating stop-lugs, and the-lug on the sleevel-ike member being cushioned to ab-' sorb-the shock.

13. In a stopping mechanism, the combination of, a rotatable member, means adapted to cooperate with the rotatable member to stop themovement thereof, a driving shaft mounted eoaxially] with the rotatable member, a sleeveli-kemember mountedto rotate with the driving shaft and movable .towardand from therotatable member, the sleevel-ike' memberand: the rotatable member having cooperating lugs,and means to -shift the sleeve-likemember.

14. In a stoppingimeehanism, the coinbinationof a rotatable member, means adapted 'to' cooperate with the rotatable member to stop the movement thereo-f, a driving shaft mountedcoaxially with the rotatable member, a sleevelike member mounted torotate with the driving: shaft and movable toward: and from the rotatable member, the sleeve-like member and the rotatable member having cooperating lugs, and means to shift the'sleeve-like member, the sleeve-like member being providedwith shock absorbing devices. r This specification signed this November, AD. 1916.

enonen n; MoLYnEUXa r 29th day of 

